2013 Annual Meeting & Celebration of Champions

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF AKRON
570 E.WaterlooRoad  • Akron,OH44319  •  www.goodwillakron.org
Phone: (330) 724-6995  •  (800) 989-8428  •  Fax: (330) 786-2504

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:    Brenda Baum,   Communications Manager
Office Direct:  (330) 786-2519
Mobile:   (330) 801-1848
bbaum@goodwillakron.org

GOODWILL’S ANNUAL MEETING FOCUSED ON

 “CELEBRATING 85 YEARS OF TEAMWORK” 

AKRON, Ohio—April 4, 2013— Goodwill Industries serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties celebrated 85 years of teamwork at its 2013 Annual Meeting & Celebration of Champions on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at The Tangier in Akron.  The program was convened at 6:00 p.m. with a welcome and call to order by Event Chair Dr. Mary Beth Kluge.  Barry E. Thoman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, took the stage to highlight the agency’s key metrics as featured in its 2012 Annual Report, and to share the team’s game plan for 2013.

Chuck Collins, Radio Personality for WAKR 1590, was the Master of Ceremony for the “Celebration of Champions” segment which was the focal point of the evening.  Assisting Chuck with presenting the awards and congratulating each champion was Goodwill’s CEO, Nan McClenaghan.   The celebration included honoring several successful program participants and recognizing businesses that have partnered with Goodwill to provide skills training opportunities for participants, hired Goodwill graduates, or who have used the agency’s services to help recruit qualified applicants.  Honorees included:

Community Partners:

Interval Brotherhood Home
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Murdock Industrial Inc.
Precise Services
Richter Healthcare Consultants

Program Participants:

Bob Banar                                             Terry McGuckin
Dennis Chance                                      Leonard Miller
Pamela Connell                                     Vicki Prussak
Michael Daugherty                               Nick Schultz
Shalonda Frederick                               Scott Stemple
Brian Harless                                        John Thompson
Kerry McEntyre

During the brief business presentation, Barry E. Thoman, Chairman/Board of Directors thanked long-time volunteers James Bunnell, Scott Hallam, Dr. Susan Hanlon, Kurt Kappa, Kurt Minson and Larry Uhl for their service and welcomed the newly elected members Geoff Belz, Gizelle Jones, Kurt Lutz, Adam O’Donnell, Victoria Paris, Belinda Richardson, Harold “Tadd” Schwarz, Tia Stathopoulos and Kevin Strickland.

Event sponsors included: Silver Level – W3 Wealth Management, LLC; Bronze-level – BCG & Company/BCG Systems- Bober Markey Fedorovich – Fifth Third Bank – FirstMerit Bank – Meaden & Moore – Roetzel & Andress – and White Hat Management.  Media Partner – Rubber City Radio Group.

Event Chair Quote: According to Event Chair Dr. Mary Beth Kluge, “Keeping the mission in the spotlight by celebrating the agency’s partnerships and the successes of its participants is an integral part of every meeting of the Board of Directors.  Sharing the individual stories at Thursday’s event allowed Goodwill to showcase the Power of Work and how these exceptional participants overcame barriers to reach their goals.  Achieving self-sufficiency and independence, overcoming challenges through perseverance and finding success are reasons to be proud of and celebrated. For our champions, pride and joy are the two words that best described the evening’s celebration.”

About Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries of Akron is a not-for-profit corporation that helps individuals prepare for, find, and retain employment. Operating in the five-county region of Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland, and Richland, the Akron-based agency was established in 1927. It is a private, independent organization, operating as an affiliate member of Goodwill Industries International, and a United Wayagency in Summitand MedinaCounties. Goodwill helps to directly strengthen the region’s workforce through its employment programs and indirectly through the net proceeds from its retail outlets and contract services division. For more information about Goodwill, visit www.goodwillakron.org or call 800-989-8428.

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